The reader-friendly explanation of how the IP address space works and how it is used

• A reader-friendly introduction to the complex and confusing topic of IP addressing

• Thorough and understandable explanations of the binary mathematics behind IP addressing

• Complete coverage of the IPv4 address space without distractions of routing or transport protocols

• Detailed explanations of subnetting and supernetting, Variable Length Subnet Masks (VLSMs), CIDR, NAT, portable address spaces, and IPv6

• Strategies for managing an address space for enterprise WANs, data centers, and ISPs

• Numerous examples and an easy-to-read style of writing that imparts a profound understanding of IP addressing

The Internet Protocol (IP) is the native protocol suite of the Internet and has become predominant in virtually all networks and internetworks. Managing an IP address space requires a solid command of binary mathematics, particularly as it is applied within the IP addressing architecture. The mathematics of the IP address space, however, are not intuitive and can be very difficult to grasp. Consequently, learning about IP addressing can be a lot like trying to piece together a jigsaw puzzle-but without knowing what the puzzle is supposed to look like.

IP Addressing Fundamentals explains simply and clearly how the IP address space works and how it is used. This is a reader-friendly book that details the fundamentals of the IP address space from the ground up. IP Addressing Fundamentals unravels the mysteries of subnetting, supernetting, and CIDR; thoroughly explains the binary mathematics of IPv4's addressing space; and demonstrates how an IP address becomes an active component in both networks and internetworks. Author Mark Sportack prepares you for real-world success by walking you through some of the issues and traps that lie in wait for anyone who needs to plan or manage the use of an IP address space. Most importantly, this book doesn't presume you already know what the entire IP addressing puzzle looks like.

IP Addressing Fundamentals imparts a profound command of IP addressing through a clear and concise writing style. Basics are reinforced with detailed information and numerous examples of how the concepts work. This book builds upon concepts presented in earlier chapters and concludes with fairly advanced topics that will become increasingly useful to midlevel network engineers.

After reading IP Addressing Fundamentals, you'll finally understand IP addressing and appreciate both its mechanics and relevance, and you'll know how to efficiently apply your new knowledge.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 5 Ratings

If you need to learn IP addressing this may be the book. - 2002-11-14
Reviewer Rating:
I have taught Network+, A+, CCNA and CIW for the past four years and in each of those classes there is sections in IP addressing What I should have had was this book to teach from. The author certainly has done his homework

The book starts with basic binary conversion which is essentials to understand when working with IP addressing. You then work with classfull addressing and fixed subnet masks. The author also explains the drawbacks to this type of addressing, which is usually skipped over in most texts.

The discussion on VLSM is both in the positives of use as well as the negatives. Form the there the author gives and excellent breakdown of CIDR and supernetting and NAT. What I think could be added to the next edition is more practice examples. Overall this would make a nice addition to the CCNA Preparation library.

IP Addressing Fundamentals by Mark A. Sportack - 2003-12-02
Reviewer Rating:
IP Addressing Fundamentals by Mark A. Sportack Cisco Press ISBN 1587050676

Just recently my company reorganized our network group. My job changed drastically.
I am now responsible for supporting our Cisco wired and wireless network. Wanting to get up to speed quickly I ask one of my coworkers for advice. He advised me to learn IP addressing. He said if I got a firm foundation in IP this would give me a better understanding of Cisco switching and routing. Since we have a Cisco network I looked to Cisco Press to find a book on IP addressing. I found that they had a book by that exact name, IP Addressing Fundamentals. The book was written Mark A. Sportack. Mr. Sportack not only writes books about networking but networking is his life. He is involved in networking literally day and night. He is a Director of Network Engineering by day and a professor at Syracuse University by night.

I received my book and began to read. If you are looking for a book that tells you how to configure a pc or server you have chosen the wrong book. If you need to know IP addressing inside and out this is the book for you. Mr. Sportack's style of writing made the book very easy to read. The book is divided into five parts with fifteen chapters.
This book helps you not only to understand how IP addressing works now, but how it originally worked and how it will work in the future. The author points out that when IP was in its infancy the rules and regulations worked fine but with the explosion of the internet problems soon cropped up. The author explains in each chapter what these problems were and how they were overcome to keep the internet viable. You may ask why all of this history of IP addressing and the internet are necessary. The author explains it best in Chapter Five, The Date of Doom, when he makes this statement. "The more you know about these and other constraints the better you will be able to deal with them on your job." Now this is what I look for in a book, someone who understands that I am not reading this book because I don't have anything to do, I am reading this book to help me on my job.

The author covers all phases of IP addressing such as: binary mathematics, classes of addresses, fixed and variable length subnet masks, classless interdomain routing, NAT, and private addresses. Other topics cover networking with IP, DNS, and the future of IP addressing with IPv6. There are numerous examples and illustrations throughout the book that make each concept easy to understand. On a scale of one to five, I give this book a five. This book has helped me tremendously on my job. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to better understand IP addressing. Because the book was clear and easy to understand, I would be eager to read other books by this author.

A good reference book for anyone in the networking industry - 2009-08-07
Reviewer Rating:
...As a Cisco Academy Instructor/Administrator in Puerto Rico, I always recomend my students, to build a good reference library for their preparation in the Cisco's Certification Path, and Cisco Press titles are a must have.

One of the most difficult and exciting class discussions are those around, "the appropiate logical segmentation" of networks using IPv4 addresses,and this book is "Fundamental" to clear up the concepts around this issue, and it does it with several good examples.

Hstory - 2008-04-08
Reviewer Rating:
I'm struggling to learn the math parts of IP addressing/sub-netting, I figured a book on fundamentals should have what I'm looking for. But I was mistaken... This book seems to give most of is pages on "History" or why thins are as they are. It may be interesting down the road but is of very little help now.

Amazon is clearly "Lost in the fog"! - 2006-11-03
Reviewer Rating:
Amazon wants me to review a product on an order they didn't complete, and apparently can't complete.

AMAZON -- SHIP THE F'ING BOOK!

Amazon, the lights are on, but nobody is home!

Browse Similar Topics

Top Level Categories:
Networking

Sub-Categories:
Networking > Cisco